Carolina Comments: Three Books & A Drama

JWF Leave a comment

RECENT READING

FAMILY TIES, SISTERS, & CHINA

Rabbit Moon by Jennifer Haigh

Haigh (bu.edu)

American writer Jennifer Haigh’s novels often have a social issue at their heart.  They run the gamut from a rare disease in The Condition, to fracking in Heat and Light, to an abortion clinic in Mercy Street, to name just a few of them.  Her latest novel, Rabbit Moon, might be said to deal with a disjointed family, the ties that still bind them, and competing cultural issues.  

Claire and Aaron have been divorced for several years, but when their older daughter Lindsey is in a coma from a car accident in Shanghai, they separately rush to her bedside.  Lindsey has ostensibly been teaching in Beijing so why she is in Shanghai is a mystery.  To her surprise, Lindsey in some ways feels more at home in China than she ever did in the U.S.  Lindsey and Grace, her adopted Chinese sister, are very close and text daily, but Grace, away at summer camp, is kept unaware of the seriousness of Lindsey’s condition.

Lindsey saw Grace as the favored child and felt unseen by her parents.  Abroad, she has made a friend or two but gotten tangled up in a questionable business which only slowly is revealed to her folks.

I have mixed feelings about this novel.  Like all of Haigh’s works, it’s stylistically excellent, and you see and hear the sights and sounds of Shanghai.  On the other hand, I thought there was a diffuseness to it that seemed as if Haigh didn’t have firm control over what kind or which novel she was writing, one about Lindsey’s secret life, one about sibling love, or one about a family in pieces.  I finished the book but felt somewhat unsatisfied.  (~JWFarrington)

NOTEWORTHY MEMOIR

Yet Here I Am: Lessons from a Black Man’s Search for Home by Jonathan Capehart

Capehart (blackpast.org)

I often tune into to the PBS News Hour on Friday night for Jonathan Capehart’s articulate and thoughtful comments on the latest political news.  His recently published memoir, Yet Here I Am, offers up context and candor about his life journey and his career opportunities and challenges along the way.  

Growing up partly in the poor South (Durham, North Carolina) and later in New Jersey, he never met his father.  He experienced being the only Black in a white environment and being perceived as “too white” in a Black setting.  He survived living with an abusive stepfather, graduated from Carleton College, and worked for the New York Daily News before joining the Washington Post and eventually hosting his own show on MSNBC.

He describes racism, recognizing one’s own worth, learning to ask for what you really want to do, and finding acceptance and eventually love.  Capehart writes at one point that he admired Katharine Graham’s memoir, Personal History, for its transparency and wanted to achieve the same openness her book had.  From my perspective, he has succeeded masterfully.  

We may think we have made lots of progress in society in how we treat minorities and gays, but more is needed.  Kudos to Capehart for his bracing and engaging account of life and career! (~JWFarrington)

LOS ANGELES IN THE 60’S AND 70’S

L. A. Women by Ella Berman (forthcoming in August)

Berman (hastybooklist.com)

Set in the late 1960’s and up to the mid 1970’s, L. A. Women is a story of the intense, fractured friendship between two young women: Lane, a novelist, ultimately a wife and mother, and Gala, a party girl and sometime writer with an out-size personality.  The men in their lives are Charlie, party master and closeted gay, and straightforward upright Scotty, who marries Lane.  Lane’s childhood was particularly dysfunctional while Gala’s wasn’t wonderful either.  As so-called friends, these two women use and abuse and sometimes depend on each other.  Competition and compassion are at war in this back-and-forth relationship.

The opening chapters are full of sex and drug-laden parties, and I didn’t find any of the characters very appealing or ones I could identify with.  When Gala disappears and no one seems to know where she has gone, Lane feels compelled, even driven, to try to locate her.  

This search fuels the novel as the chapters alternate in time between past events and present day 1975.  Recommended for fans of Ella Berman and those looking for a graphic portrait of an earlier Hollywood/Los Angeles era. (A version of this review first appeared in Book Browse online.)

TV VIEWING

COMPLEX CRIME SERIES: EVERYONE HAS MOTIVE

I, Jack Wright (Britbox)

Jack Wright’s family members (thekillingtimestv.com)

When billionaire Jack Wright dies, it’s initially assumed to be an unexpected suicide.  But it isn’t.  He left behind a large complex family, and the reading of his will leaves many of them angered and unhappy. Principals include his third wife, Sally and their two children; his two sons John and Gray, one in the family publishing business one not; Rose, his second wife and the mother of those sons; plus his granddaughter Emily.  His remaining two wives are close, while his son Gray, a ne’er-do-well, has been estranged from his father for years.  Add in a housekeeper, the new lawyer Jack hired prior to his death unbeknownst to Sally, and on it goes.  Who stood to gain the most from his death as almost everyone had motive? How will detective Hector Morgan suss it all out?

The series contains six episodes.  I expected to find out who the murderer was but, no, I was left with a cliffhanger.  Another season must be in the works.  I, Jack Wright is more of a psychological drama than an action series, but the Chief Penguin and I were hooked.  

Next blog:  Summer reading list

Note: Header photo is of Mirror Labyrinth NY by Jeppe Hein at the North Carolina Museum of Art ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)

Manhattan Viewing: Sargent & The Austens

JWF Leave a comment

If you need a distraction from the political scene this holiday weekend, here is an art exhibit to enjoy vicariously and a fun drama series to binge on. Happy Memorial Day—may the good times return!

PORTRAITS AND MORE: JOHN SINGER SARGENT

Sargent and Paris (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Madame X by Sargent, 1883-84

John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) was an American painter who grew up mostly in Europe.  He is probably best known for his daring portrait, Madame X.  Depicting an elegant woman in an almost strapless gown, it was considered scandalous when first shown in Paris.  Consequently, Sargent had to re-build his reputation before being fully accepted again for commissioned portraits.

The exhibit, Singer and Paris, is rich and wonderful in its expansive coverage of Sargent’s early career.  I knew Sargent had painted society women but was unaware of his early works based on travels to France, Italy, Spain, and Morocco. There are outdoor scenes, intimate interior ones, and family groupings. 

Wineglasses, ca.1875
Venetian Interior, ca.1880-82
Le Verre de Porto), 1884

And there are portraits of artist friends and colleagues both men and women.  I was particularly struck by his arresting portrait of the surgeon Dr. Ponzi and the delicacy of the tented woman inhaling the smoke of ambergris.

Detail, Fumee d’Ambre Gris, 1880
Dr. Ponzi at Home, 1881
(Mrs. Henry White) 1883

Later, after he painted Margaret Stuyvesant Rutherford White, the wife of an American diplomat, high society began to seek him out for their portraits. He also painted this stunning portrait of Carmen Dauset Moreno, a Flamenco dancer, as a show piece.

La Carmencita, ca.1890

The exhibit was both popular and crowded, even though we arrived at the opening hour.  I recommend it highly and could easily return for a second look! On view through August. 3.

AUSTEN SISTER: CASSANDRA AND THE LETTERS

Miss Austen (PBS Masterpiece)

Isabella and Cassandra with others (bbc.com)

I binge watched this series (4 episodes) over two days.  And really enjoyed it!  I’m a diehard Jane Austen fan.  I’ve read her books, seen various productions of her works, and briefly was a member of the local chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America.  

This series is based on a novel by Gill Hornby, a writer I didn’t know, and focuses on Jane’s elder sister Cassandra (the Miss Austen of the title) and her efforts to safeguard Jane’s reputation.  It is not fast paced, but engrossing. When Cassie’s sister-in-law’s father dies, years after Jane’s death, she shows up at the Fowles’ home to offer her support and assistance.  Surviving daughter Isabella, who lived with her father, will have to move elsewhere to accommodate the new vicar. Cassie is concerned for Isabella’s future but has an ulterior motive.  She is seeking letters that Jane wrote to Isabella’s mother Eliza.  (In truth, Cassandra was responsible for burning some of Jane Austen’s personal letters.)

In Cassie’s searching and reflecting, there are flashbacks to their upbringing, Jane’s writing, her own brief romance, and the complex dynamics of the large extended Austen family.  Some in-laws are more tolerable than others, and some family members are more concerned with their social standing.  Overall, it’s a series about love—romantic love, married love, and the very strong sibling bond between Cassie and Jane.  Each sister largely felt she could not survive without the love and support of the other.  

Keeley Hawes is marvelous as Cassandra and Rose Leslie excellent as Isabella. There are also familiar faces from Downton Abbey.  Recommended, especially for Jane Austen fans!

Note: Photos from the exhibit by JWFarrington. Header photo is Sargent’s The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit, 1882.

Manhattan: Portraits in Art, Literature, Film

JWF Leave a comment

ART: PORTRAITS OF AMERICANS

Amy Sherald American Sublime (Whitney Museum of American Art)

First Lady Michelle Obama

Amy Sherald is an American portrait painter whose works feature mostly Black individuals.  She is probably best known for her portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama, hung on a wall by itself.  The exhibit is large and encompasses early works from 2007 to very recent ones.  Many of the portraits are of ordinary people, and almost all of them are single individuals standing upright against a solid deep colored background.  Some are holding objects, such as a rabbit in a hat, which take them out of strict reality into a sort of dream world.  

Early portrait of an individual
The Bathers, 2015

Sherald’s latest works seem more political with a sharper focus on racism and gender issues.  I was especially drawn to these recent pieces.  The riff on the Statue of Liberty forces one to look again closely at the title and the work itself.

Trans Forming Liberty, 2024

For Love and For Country takes the famous kiss in Times Square (Eisenstadt photo, 1945) as inspiration for a different depiction of love and service.

For Love, and for Country, 2022

This year is the 10th anniversary of the Whitney Museum’s wonderful Renzo Piano building located in the Meatpacking District. (The Chief Penguin and I had the chance to tour the building with one of Renzo’s architects shortly before it opened.) To celebrate its location overlooking the Hudson River, check out Mary Heilmann’s Long Life mural and the funky colorful chairs for absorbing the view.

Mural, chairs & view

 

LITERATURE: EARLY FEMINIST

The Solitary Walker: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft by N. J. Mastro

In the late 18th century, Mary Wollstonecraft boldly challenged the traditional view of women’s place in society. Mentored and encouraged by publisher Joseph Johnson, she wrote reviews for his publications and penned A Vindication of the Rights of Women, the first of her works to argue that women were not naturally inferior to men. 

Mastro’s debut novel, A Solitary Walker, follows Wollstonecraft’s writing career in London, her time in Paris covering the French Revolution, and her solo journey to Scandinavia to untangle lover Gilbert Imlay’s shipping affairs.  Until her 30’s, Wollstonecraft vowed never to marry. The product of an abusive home, she guarded her heart against love and romance.  

This is a rich and very engaging novel which brings Mary Wollstonecraft to life as she cherishes her independence, but ultimately realizes she too needs love to sustain her.  Recommended for fans of historical fiction! It is worth noting that Wollstonecraft’s daughter, Mary Shelley, was also famous; she wrote Frankenstein, a novel that has inspired numerous plays and movies.

FILM: FEARLESS PUBLISHER

Becoming Katharine Graham (Prime Video)

Katharine Graham (washingtonpost.com)

If you lived through the 1960’s and 70’s, you likely know Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham’s story. Perhaps you have also read her forthright and moving autobiography, Personal History.  Even so, this new documentary, Becoming Katharine Graham, is so compelling and timely, that I highly recommend it.

Katharine Graham’s father bought the Washington Post in the 1930’s, and it was a part of her life from childhood onward.  When in 1963, her husband Phil Graham, then publisher, committed suicide, she took on the role.  Graham was a mother and a deferential wife (or her word, “a doormat.”) The job of publisher pushed her into the forefront.  She was the first American woman to hold this kind of position, and she served with an all-male board.

Throughout her 28 years as publisher, Kay Graham was challenged and determined and even fearless.   She faced tough decisions regarding the Pentagon Papers and how the Post should cover the Watergate scandal.  Her transformation into a female dynamo is documented with archival footage and interviews with the likes of Warren Buffet, Gloria Steinem, Carl Bernstein, and others.  The film runs for 90 minutes.

Note: All unattributed photos by JWFarrington. Header photo is exterior of Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center.

Manhattan Moments: Textiles, Film, & Food

JWF Leave a comment

TEXTILES AS ART

Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction (MoMA)

Weaving by Stolzl, 1928

We headed to the Museum of Modern Art specifically to see a members’ preview of some delicate flower paintings.  That exhibit was unexpectedly closed, so we opted for the textile and fabric exhibit I had also noted.  Featuring 150 pieces, this exhibit spans creative works from the early 20th century to the present from Europe and around the world. It focuses on textiles or fabric as art, not just craft.

“Torcik (Cake)”, postcard of handwoven sweater by Otowska, 2010

 I was also drawn to some of the wall hangings and the various weaving techniques.

Detail of Anni Albers’ weaving
Cojin I-IV, Teresa Lanceta, 1999
“Fishnet” R. Wilson, 2011

VIEWING: WEST BANK DESTRUCTION

No Other Land (streaming available)

Winner of this year’s Academy Award for Best Documentary, No Other Land, is a graphic and personal account of the ongoing destruction and demolition of West Bank villages by Israeli soldiers from 2019-2023.  The West Bank on the Jordan River is one of two territories that comprise Palestine.  Filmed and told mainly from the perspective of Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval, it is heartrending, upsetting, and powerful.  

Over decades, Israeli soldiers have routinely targeted these mountainous villages (Masafer Yatta), bulldozing homes and a new school, threatening residents, and shooting at those who get in the way.  Residents are essentially captive in their villages; they need special permits to enter Israel and often don’t own cars, also subject to restrictions.  Basel Adra’s daring in shooting these scenes live is admirable, while the watching the tentative relationship between Basel and Yuval develop into a genuine friendship is heartening.  Highly recommended! 

DINING: YET ANOTHER ITALIAN RESTAURANT?

Il Gradino (Lexington near 62nd)

I’ll Gradino interior

While out walking, we happened on Il Gradino and decided to check it out.  The reviews were very good and so we booked.   It’s a small space with white tablecloths and polished service.  We began with two tempting specials, fried stuffed zucchini blossoms for me and artichokes Jewish style for the Chief Penguin.

Chicken cutlet

For entrees, I had a lovely chicken cutlet saltimbocca style with asparagus spears topping the prosciutto and cheese, while the CP enjoyed a large bowl of linguini cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper.)  It was a lovely meal with some different Italian dishes.  Another addition for our list of favorites!

Note: All photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.) Header photo is a detail from “Shape-Up” (1976-77) by Alan Shields.